GMA Extra: Hard-working student in dire need of a place to stay
Top achieving student is now in search of a place to stay to make his studying a lot easier.
GMA EXTRA 9 APRIL 2017 KAGISO/ETA COLLEGE (KAGISO FAKKEL/SPAR 17 & 22 AUGUST 2016)
BACKGROUND: Today the story of 18-year old Kagiso Kgotlhang continues.
Last year, we met Kagiso Kgotlhang. He was in matric and studying hard. His high school achievements included: academics Top10 - number 3 and athletics provincial championship participation. Kagiso’s reality is that he has no parents. They both died in 2005. His aunt took him in and raised him - but she too passed away in March last year. Kagiso lives with his 26-year old brother, Modise, in a small room. The local church helped them with meals and he received a R350/month government grant, as Modise works for a very small salary. On top of this, Kagiso lost the sight in his both eyes due to cataracts. The situation left Kagiso with poor half-year marks. The school managed to get help from the Education Department and both of Kagiso’s eyes were operated on. He passed matric with excellent results. Our friends at Spar are helping Kagiso and Modise with voucher for groceries for a year.
Kagiso has started the first year of his his three year Sport & Recreation Management course, which is fully funded by the eta College in Centurion. From what we hear, he is doing very well. However, Kagiso needs a place to stay near the College as traveling and boarding remains a challenge for him.
According to eta College’s Reinier van der Ryst, Kagiso spends many extra hours at college to finish his projects and do extra work.
He once walked from Atterdigeville to the college, when he couldn’t find transport - because he didn’t want to miss class.
We find out more from Reinier this morning and hear about Kagiso's difficulties.
ORIGINAL OFFER:
Good Morning Angels,
eta College is a private Sport and Fitness College, offering courses to prospective students wanting to enter into the Sport and Fitness industry. We all heard the heart-warming and humbling story of Kagiso Kgotlhang and immediately felt compelled to offer our assistance.
From our side we would like to offer a full bursary to study our 3 year Sport & Recreation Management course. The course is a National Diploma and is offered at a National Qualifications Framework Level 6. The total value of this course is R 180 000. Attached you’ll find an overview of the course.
The minimum recommended requirement for admission is the National Senior Certificate (NSC), moderate achievement (40-49%). Recommended: Minimum of 40% in English. When Kagiso passes his National Senior Certificate, we will gladly offer him the chance to study at our College, based at SuperSport Park, Centurion.
We look forward to assisting Kagiso achieve his dreams.
Regards,
Reinier van der Ryst
ORIGINAL REQUEST:
Dear Sir/ Madam
Hereby we would like to request your assistance with regard to the situation that one of our grade 12 learners is facing at present.
The name of the learner in grade12 is Kagiso Austin Kgotlhang. He is 18 years old. Both of his parents passed away in 2005. His aunt took him in from 2005 and raised him. She passed away this year in March.
Kagiso is presently staying with his brother, Modise Ndebele. Modise earns R2000,00 per month and the indication from Kagiso is that his brother pays rent, electricity and water with this money. They get support for food from the social workers and from a grant that gives them R350,00 per month. They struggle a lot due to a lack of food and clothing. Some educators assist final vial where possible.
Kagiso is in matric and has now encountered a even bigger problem with regard to his eyesight. His left eye has cataracts and he cannot see out of it and his right eye is also losing vision due to increase cataracts in it also. He is presently struggling to read, to write and to study due to this problem. This year he passed term 1; he failed term 2 due to all of his marks that dropped because the problem started at the beginning of the June exams and got worse during the June holidays.
The school assisted by taking him to TIBA for assessment and treatment of his eyes and eyesight. They indicated that they scheduled him for treatment/ operation in the next 2-3 weeks. It has come and gone and the indication is that they can most probably only help him next year. By then he would have lost his sight already.
Presently, the learner must write Prelims Exams, starting at the end of August, and also his NSC Final Grade 12 Exams in October.
Hereby we are asking for any kind of help from any medical doctor/ hospital in assisting the learner with regaining his sight - even by first removing the cataracts from the one eye and later to do the other eye; this will allow him to complete his matric.
Further background of the learner:
He stays in Turffontein. He attended Park Junior and - Senior Primary Schools and presently he is attending Die Fakkel High School. He has always been invited to Honours and Prize-giving Evenings. His best achievements include academics Top10 - number 3 and athletics provincial championship participation. He want to further his studies at University of Doornfontein where he plans to study Sport Management and Development and also wants to join a athletics club in Alberton because he is determined to succeed as a professional athlete.
In his own words:
"I am a good, respectful and honest child. I hope and pray to God that I will reach my goals and dreams in life - that I will one day also be able to help my brother."
Sincerely,
Die Fakkel High School.